French Authorities Received a Software Update for Apple’s iPhone 12 

iPhone 12 phones are seen at an Apple Store on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, California, US, June 24, 2021. (Reuters)
iPhone 12 phones are seen at an Apple Store on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, California, US, June 24, 2021. (Reuters)
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French Authorities Received a Software Update for Apple’s iPhone 12 

iPhone 12 phones are seen at an Apple Store on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, California, US, June 24, 2021. (Reuters)
iPhone 12 phones are seen at an Apple Store on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, California, US, June 24, 2021. (Reuters)

French authorities have received a software update from Apple for its iPhone 12 and are reviewing it, a source at the French digital ministry told Reuters on Tuesday.

The US tech company had pledged to update the software to defuse a row over radiation levels. It had until Wednesday to do so after France suspended sales of iPhone 12 handsets following tests it said found breaches of radiation exposure limits.

Apple contested the findings, saying the iPhone 12 was certified by multiple international bodies as compliant with global standards, but said on Sept.15 it would issue a software update to accommodate the testing methods used in France.

Researchers have conducted a vast number of studies over the last two decades to assess the health risks of mobile phones. According to the World Health Organization, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by them.

But the radiation warning in France, based on results of tests that differ from those carried out in other countries, has prompted concerns across Europe and other countries, including Belgium, which asked to benefit from the software upgrade too.

Industry experts said there were no safety risks as regulatory limits, based on the risk of burns or heatstroke from the phone's radiation, were set well below levels where scientists have found evidence of harm.

Apple launched the iPhone 15 earlier this month and the iPhone 12 is not available to buy from Apple directly. It can, however, be bought from third parties that have inventory, or trade old phones.

A bigger issue would have been a potential recall, which France had threatened if Apple had refused to do a software update.



Nintendo Switch 2 Smashes Record as Company’s Fastest-Selling Console 

A staff member holds a Nintendo Switch 2 game console as Nintendo starts selling the new consoles globally, at an electronics store in Tokyo, Japan June 5, 2025. (Reuters)
A staff member holds a Nintendo Switch 2 game console as Nintendo starts selling the new consoles globally, at an electronics store in Tokyo, Japan June 5, 2025. (Reuters)
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Nintendo Switch 2 Smashes Record as Company’s Fastest-Selling Console 

A staff member holds a Nintendo Switch 2 game console as Nintendo starts selling the new consoles globally, at an electronics store in Tokyo, Japan June 5, 2025. (Reuters)
A staff member holds a Nintendo Switch 2 game console as Nintendo starts selling the new consoles globally, at an electronics store in Tokyo, Japan June 5, 2025. (Reuters)

Japan's Nintendo said on Wednesday it had sold more than 3.5 million Switch 2 units in the first four days after its launch, making the console the company's fastest-selling gaming device to date.

Last month, the Kyoto-based company forecast Switch 2 sales would reach 15 million during the current financial year ending next March.

"Fans around the world are showing their enthusiasm for Nintendo Switch 2 as an upgraded way to play at home and on the go," Nintendo of America President and Chief Operating Officer Doug Bowser said in a statement.

Nintendo has sold 152 million Switch devices since it was first launched in 2017, creating a games juggernaut with titles including "The Legend of Zelda" and COVID-19 pandemic breakout hit "Animal Crossing: New Horizons".

The more powerful second-generation version, which went on sale on June 5, bears many similarities with its predecessor, but offers a larger screen and improved graphics. It is sold with titles including "Mario Kart World".